Coupling device for straps or webbings



C. P. MQLLA COUPLING DEVICE FOR STRAPS 0R WEBBINGS Filed Jan. 18, 1960 Dec. 11, 1962 INVENTOR. CH/IRL E5 P M0: L0

HTTORNEY nite Stat 3,067,475 COUPLING DEVICE FQR STRAPS R WEBBINGS Charles I. Moll-a, Pine Wood Road, Old Westbury, NY. Filed Jan. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 3,098 1 Claim. or. 24-73 This invention relates to coupling devices used for securing straps or webbings to side, seat and back rest members of furniture of different types and kinds. More particularly, the invention deals with coupling devices of the character described, in connection with which the straps or webbings are adjustably coupled, the devices having means for quickly attaching the same to apertured portions of tubular frame members of seat and back rest portions of a chair or the like.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken to gether with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan View showing small portions of spaced side members of seat or back rest portions of a chair or the like, illustrating a strap or webbing supported in connection therewith by utilizing my improved coupling devices, the strap or webbing being broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the strap or webbing in side elevation in full lines.

FIG. 3 is a view looking generally in the direction of the arrow 3 of FIG. 2 showing only the coupling device; and

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, omitting the background showing.

To illustrate one use of my invention, I have indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawing spaced tubular rails 10, which could be the side rails of the seat portion or side rails of the back rest portion of a chair, couch, settee or the like and at 11, 11' I have shown two of my improved coupling devices for adjustably securing the end portions of a strap or webbing 12 with the tubular members 10, 10'. As the structure of both of the devices 11, 11' are identical, the brief description of the device 11, shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, will be applicable to both devices.

The device 11 comprises a more or less rectangular curved body portion 13 defined by end rails 14, 15 joined by side members 16, note FIG. 3 of the drawing, and arranged between the rails 14, 15 is an intermediate outwardly offset rail 17, the offset of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawing. This construction forms in the body 13 and intermediate the rails 14, 17 and 17 and 15 elongated apertures 18 and 19, respectively, clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing and one of which is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

Projecting outwardly from the central portion of the rail 15 is a hook-shaped coupling member 20 defined by a neck portion 21 and finger 22, the latter being arranged in a different plane by virtue of an offset portion 23 in the neck 21.

It will appear from a consideration of FIG. 2 of the drawing that the neck portion 21 is arranged in the same curved plane as the rail 15 to conform generally to the contour of the tube 10 and that the finger 22, while being offset, is also preferably curved to fit within the bore 24 of the tube 10.

Arranged in the lower portion of the tube 10 is an aperture 25 of such diameter as to facilitate insertion of the finger 22 into the bore 24, while positioning the offset portion 23 closely adjacent one side portion of the aperture, so that the offset portion, in combination with the edge 26 of the finger which is disposed within the bore 3,867,475 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 24, serves to definitely retain the device 11 in connection with the tube 10 and against accidental displacement therefrom.

Prior to attachment of the device 11 with the tube 10, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the end portion 12' of the strap or webbing 12 is first threaded inwardly through the aperture 19 and then outwardly through the aperture 18 and extended sufliciently beyond the rail 14 so that, when the strap is assembled with the assembled furniture, the portion 27 of the strap disposed between the rail 17 and the outer surface of the tube 10 will be definitely clamped and placed under slight compression to positively retain the strap against longitudinal movement and this operation is further assisted by the portion 28 of the strap arranged over that part of the strap end 12' arranged upon the rail 14. This rail in the operative position of the device bears directly upon the outer surface of the tube 10, as indicated at 29 in FIG. 2 of the drawing. At this time, it is pointed out that the showing in FIG. 2 is more or less diagrammatic and is not intended to show the actual shaping of the strap when securely fixed in position by the coupling device 11. By offsetting the rail 17 outwardly, clearance is provided between the rail and the outer surface of the tube 10, so as to enable the rail 14 to be moved into engagement with the tube 10, and, in this operation, the edge 26 of the finger 22 and the offset 23 are securely held in engagement with the bore 24 and the aperture 25 of the tube 10.

It will be apparent that, in the use of the device, the webbing may be said to have a looped end defined by the overlapping of the end portions of the webbing and that the intermediate rail 17 is disposed within the loop of said webbing ends.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A coupling device for securing webbings to tubular supports, a wall of the support having an aperture, said device comprising a substantially rectangular curved body portion forming concave and convex surfaces thereon, said body portion being defined by side members joined by end rails and an intermediate rail, said rails forming in the body portion two elongated apertures, one end rail having centrally thereof a reduced projecting neck portion, an offset at one end of said neck portion, said offset being arranged on the concave surface of the body portion, a finger projecting laterally from one side edge of said offset and in alinement therewith, said finger being parallel with the adjacent surface of the end rail of the body portion, from which the neck portion projects, said finger and offset being insertable through the aperture in the support in attaching the device to the support, a webbing attached to the body portion of the device by insertion of an end of the webbing inwardly and out wardly through the apertures in said body portion with said webbing end extending backwardly beneath the adjacent webbing and over and beyond the other end rail of the body portion, when the device is coupled with said tubular support, said intermediate rail being offset outwardly with respect to the convex surface of the body portion, the overlapped portions of the webbing on the body portion of the device forming in the webbing a loop, and said intermediate rail being disposed in said loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,037,045 Patton Aug. 27, 1912 1,723,841 Butler Aug. 6, 1929 2,264,957 Shafarman Dec. 2, 1941 2,582,579 Bedford Jan. 15, 1952 2,876,827 Mirrione Mar. 10, 1959 

